Love at the Core

Run Kid Run | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (April 29, 2008)
• Original Release Date: 2008
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Tooth & Nail Records
• ASIN: B0016CP2HC
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #134,363 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Love at the Core is Run Kid Run's sophomore album release. Hailing from the state of Illinois, Run Kid Run is a four piece Pop Rock band with huge hooks, infectious melodies, and uplifting lyrics. With a record that is guaranteed to make you sing along, don't pass up the chance to experience Run Kid Run for yourself. Run Kid Run is a mix of alternative rock and Christian punk.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars It Doesn't Get Much Better Than This--RKR is Punk's Best Kept Secret!, April 29, 2008

By 

Michael Spooner (CT) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Love at the Core (Audio CD)

I should start off by saying that I am no stranger to the pop-punk/emo-punk/powerpop/whateveryouwannacallit genre (both in the "Christian industry" and the "mainstream"). Bands like New Found Glory, Yellowcard, All American Rejects, Cartel, Number One Gun, The Ataris, Relient K, Hawk Nelson, FM Static, and MxPx find their way to my CD player on many occasions, and I enjoy them thoroughly.

With that said, I believe Run Kid Run's first record, "This is Who We Are," is one of the finest--if not the finest--in its genre. With "Love at the Core," my belief that Run Kid Run is at the top of their class has only been strengthened.

Their musical style is nothing new, but there's just something about this band and its music that is unique; listening to Run Kid Run just makes you feel great. I can't say for sure whether it comes from the consistently catchy melodies, Neil Endicott's layered guitar work, the distinct sound of David Curtis's vocals, or the perfectly balanced and layered production of James Paul Wisner--but the music here has a depth that many others simply lack. I would venture to say that it is a combination of all of these things mixed in with the heart of the band members, themselves. Indeed--if nothing else, Run Kid Run has HEART--and it shines through in their music.

There's just something about this music that is so wonderfully good-natured, honest, and unpretentious. The lyrics are not particularly sophisticated, but they have a simple authenticity to them; they flow with the music and fit it to a tee. Run Kid Run's tunes are catchy and accessible, all the while avoiding the sometimes repetitive, cheesy, and/or sickeningly-sugary-sweet phrases and melodies of some similar groups ("car sick" choruses, as I like to call them).

Structurally, Run Kid Run often deviates from the typical verse/chorus/verse/chorus/bridge/chorus status quo (see "Rescue Me"). RKR has a creativity and unpredictability in their melodies and rhythms that keeps their music fresh, play after play. There's actually meaning behind the lyrics, and the positivity actually feels genuine with these guys. You know that these guys are being themselves, all the way from the lyrics and music to just the way that they dress. This isn't about a "scene;" this is about fun, genuine, uplifting music with a positive outlook that people can connect to and sing along with.

Having said all this, I obviously had very high expectations going into this release, and, amazingly, Run Kid Run managed to meet them. While I wouldn't necessarily say they've surpassed "This Is Who We Are" with "Love at the Core," I would say that they've lived up to it--and that's enough to make my year!

Overall, Run Kid Run hasn't changed much with "Love at the Core," and for someone who loved their first record as much as I did, that is a very, very good thing. James Paul Wisner does a brilliant job with this band as their producer, and I hope that they continue to work together far into the future. Wisner uses similar sounds and production techniques on "Love at the Core" that often hearken back to the first record (background vocals, for example). He also experiments more with ambiance this time around (i.e. the generous use of reverb on "Captives Come Home"). If I had any complaint here, it would be that "Love at the Core" relies a bit more on the production than "This Is Who We Are," which had a bit more of a natural--even analog--sound to it. One example of this would be the heavily produced vocal sound in "Rescue Me," which I felt sounded a bit processed in the intro of the song. The loudness wars also strike again with the mastering on "Love at the Core," but thankfully never cross into the territory of harsh, audible distortion. The overall effect here is still complete sonic ear candy.

Stylistically speaking, upbeat catchy tunes like "Rescue Me," "Sure Shot," "Love at the Core," "Set the Dial" and the infectious and wonderfully unpredictable single, "Captives Come Home," are in a similar vein to the tracks on "This Is Who We Are." Songs like "Fall Into the Light," and "One in a Million," however, show off a slightly darker, more emotional (dare I say "emo"?) side to Run Kid Run, while "The Emergency" introduces a heavier, more dramatic tone to the mix. "My Sweet Escape" slows things down a bit and contains a piano melody so beautifully nostalgic and longing that it could stand on its own right. The closer, "Freedom," is a departure for the band; a dramatic, building piece complete with strings and a soaring chorus line that just might make you tear up a bit if you let it. Lead singer David Josiah Curtis has taken his vocals up another notch with this release, especially evident on tracks like "Fall Into the Light," and his delivery in quieter passages on the title track "Love at the Core." Overall, these tracks are not quite as upbeat as many of those found on "This Is Who We Are," but they are still very much in-character and consistent with who we know Run Kid Run to be; they simply show us a different angle.

This album is a bit more spiritually outspoken than their last, but in a very authentic, personal (and certainly never "preachy") way. I believe that these guys deserve so much more attention and critical acclaim than they get--both in the mainstream and just in the CCM industry--but the beautiful thing is that they don't seem to mind it when they don't get it; they just keep doing their thing and writing great songs. The music and the attitude has remained consistent on "Love at the Core," and it's apparent that these guys aren't going to compromise who they are for the sake of recognition.

All in all, "Love at the Core" is another 35 minutes of pop-punk perfection, and, in my opinion, another example of the pinnacle of this genre. Run Kid Run has proven that they are not only excellent songwriters; they are also consistent ones. Any reservations I had about labeling RKR my "favorite band" are now gone. This is the music of my soul!

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars good stuff, May 1, 2008

By 

Kyle VanWagner "Farewell Senator" (Dallas, Tx) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Love at the Core (Audio CD)

Every since the first Side Walk Slam release (former band of members in Run Kid Run) I've been a fan. When Josiah stepped up from bass to sing in the place of their original singer I was skeptical, and his first release at vocals, "Give Back", was a let down for me. However "...And We Drive" was a brilliant release, the melodies never stopped.

Then they dropped off the Tooth and Nail roster, and I was heartbroken. Then I noticed a new band, Run Kid Run, checked them out, and was surprised to find that the members of Side Walk Slam had added another member and changed their name. But their sound was even better.
The catchy pop-punk and great melodies were back, and in incredible abundance.

These guys create amazing songs, the melodies and lyrics are both something to admire. While not breaking any new ground, they manage to keep from falling into the bog that most pop-punk bands find themselves in. None of the songs run together, and every song has something fresh to offer.

This is just as good as "This Is Who We Are", definetly a must buy for anyone who loves melody in their punk.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Awesome Sophomore Effort, May 1, 2008

By 

Garrison4JC "Garrison4JC" (Bakersfield, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Love at the Core (Audio CD)

I enjoyed the pop-punk energy of Run Kid Run's debut, "This Is Who We Are". I must say, they have recaptured the magic that made their debut so dynamic on their sophomore effort, "Love At The Core"!

This album will have a definite spot on my MP3 player's on-the-road rotation. It has been said, and I agree, that there isn't a huge difference in composition (musically or lyrically) from their previous release. However, it is equally as enjoyable!

Run Kid Run does manage to gently change up tempo and instrumentation enough between tracks to keep things moving along smoothly without sounding like carbon copies (as a number of other pop-punk and power-pop acts are notorious for).

Additionally, I am pleased with the fact that this is one of the few acts on a "Christian Label" who do not attempt to disguise or otherwise soften their positive Biblical values expressed through their lyrics. At the same time, I want to acknowledge that there is a difference between Christian's who are in a band for entertainment and those who are in the band as a ministry...I applaud the fact that Run kid Run manages to entertain without compromising the message.

Stand Out Songs: Rescue Me, Sure Shot, The Emergency